How Vijay Is Trying To Build A Standalone Majority For TVK In Tamil Nadu Assembly
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay appears to be working on a clear political plan: reduce TVK’s dependence on allies and move closer to a standalone majority in the Assembly.
The latest trigger is the resignation of senior AIADMK leader and former minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar as MLA from Karur. He is expected to join Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, becoming the latest opposition legislator to move towards the ruling party.
AIADMK Faces Fresh Setback
Vijayabhaskar’s resignation has further weakened the AIADMK, whose strength in the Assembly has now come down to 41. He is the sixth AIADMK legislator to resign after the recent Assembly election.
The resignations have created vacancies in Karur, Viralimalai, Madurantakam, Dharapuram, Perundurai, and Ambasamudram. Another vacancy was created after Vijay vacated the Tiruchirappalli East seat while retaining Perambur.
Together, these developments have opened the door for bypolls in seven constituencies.
TVK’s Majority Calculation
TVK currently has 107 MLAs on its own. With seven seats vacant, the effective strength of the 234-member Assembly has dropped to 227, bringing the current majority mark to 114.
If TVK wins all seven bypolls, its individual tally will rise to 114. That would give Vijay a stronger working position in the present House, though in a full 234-member Assembly, the halfway majority mark remains 118.
This is why the bypolls are politically crucial for TVK. A clean sweep would not only improve the party’s numbers but also give Vijay a stronger claim of public approval beyond post-election alliance support.
MDMK Exit Adds To Political Churn
The political movement is not limited to AIADMK. Vaiko’s MDMK recently exited the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance after nine years. Vaiko has extended support to TVK, especially in bypolls.
However, the two MDMK MLAs have refused to resign, as they were elected on the DMK’s Rising Sun symbol. This has created another layer of complexity in Tamil Nadu’s shifting alliance politics.
Vijay’s Bigger Strategy
Vijay’s immediate goal appears to be numerical stability. TVK formed the government with support from former DMK alliance partners after emerging as the single largest party with 108 seats in the April Assembly election.
Since then, the party has tried to expand its direct strength by attracting leaders with local influence, especially from the AIADMK. By fielding defectors in their own constituencies during bypolls, TVK can test whether these leaders can transfer their personal vote base to Vijay’s party symbol.
Bypolls Will Be The Real Test
The strategy carries risks. Winning all seven bypolls is not easy, especially when opposition parties are likely to frame the contests as a referendum on defections and political loyalty.
For Vijay, however, the reward is significant. A strong bypoll performance could help TVK move closer to a standalone majority, weaken the AIADMK further, and reshape Tamil Nadu’s political balance.
The coming bypolls will therefore decide whether Vijay’s TVK can convert post-election political momentum into a more stable Assembly majority.
